Working Together in Mission

Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne seek to fulfil our mission with parents and parishes. Priests are the primary faith leaders in the parish and work collaboratively in carrying forward the work of education with the explicit proclamation of the Gospel.
Catholic Schooling provides and environment in which students are enabled to:

• encounter God in Christ and deepen their relationship with him
• pursue wisdom and truth encouraged by a supportive academic culture
• grow in the practice of virtue, responsible freedom and serving the common good.

MACS schools build communities of faith, hope and love in the light of Jesus Christ. MACS schools recognise the inherent dignity of every person as being created in the image of God. We are inspired by the Gospel to act for a just society.

The sacramental and liturgical life of the Church is a distinctive and central aspect of Catholic life and practice, shared by everyone.
Faith life in Catholic schools includes prayer, liturgies, celebrations of the Church’s liturgical year, opportunities for reflection and retreats, and engagement in social justice initiatives. Through these experiences, students are invited to explore the Catholic tradition and develop an understanding of their place within the wider Church community.

Religious Education Curriculum

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) is renewing its commitment to excellence in Religious Education by supporting the development of a new RE Curriculum for the Archdiocese of Melbourne. The development of the curriculum is overseen by the Religious Education Reference Group established by the Archbishop of Melbourne.
Education in Faith  in Melbourne Catholic schools is expressed through three interconnected dimensions.

Whole School Culture

Schools express a Catholic worldview through their relationships, values, policies and culture. This reflects the belief that each person is created in the image of God and called to live a life of dignity, service and community.

School as Ecclesial Community

Faith is experienced through the shared faith life of the school community. This includes prayer, sacramental celebrations, marking the liturgical seasons of the Church, social justice initiatives and opportunities for service.

Classroom Religious Education

Religious Education in the classroom is coherent and knowledge rich. It is kerygmatic, sequential, cumulative and Christocentric. It brings together theological knowledge, engagement with Scripture and Catholic teaching, and is open to opportunities for  reflection and catechesis. Students explore the beliefs, traditions and moral teachings of the Catholic Church while also reflecting on their own experiences and questions of meaning and purpose.

Approach to the Sacraments

In the Archdiocese of Melbourne, in preparing for the sacraments, the school supports the parish in the sacramental programs by assisting with communication and engagement with parents.  Parish Priests and Principals work together to ensure the sacramental and liturgical opportunities provided for students and families meet pastoral need and cultivate hope for the future.

Children typically celebrate the sacraments of:

• Penance (Reconciliation)
• Eucharist
• Confirmation

during their primary school years. Parish sacramental programs usually involve family participation, learning sessions and celebrations within the parish community.

Catholic schools support these programs through Religious Education, prayer and preparation activities that help students understand the meaning of the sacraments in the life of the Church.

Further Information
Parents can explore more about Catholic education and faith formation in the Archdiocese of Melbourne through the following resources:
• Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS)
• Archdiocese of Melbourne website – https://www.macs.vic.edu.au/
• Parish sacramental preparation programs – Parish and school website